BREAKING THE YEARLING. 65 



CHAPTER IX. 



BREAKING. 



Gentleness essential — The tackle described — Other methods, and objections to them 

 — The bit and bridle — The colt ridden loose — Age at which horses should be 

 broke : opinions of Buffon and Cuvier — Best season for breaking — Should 

 be broke as a yearling — Different practices and objections to them — Reasons 

 for breaking early — Examples from foreign horses — Instances in proof of my 

 system ; Antagonist and the Nottingham Colt — Confirmed by the French 

 practice — Big and little yearlings compared — Lord George Bentinck's usage 

 of them — Sir Tatton Sykes's treatment of yearlings described and commended. 



Having some idea of the ground to be selected, we may now 

 proceed to describe the breaking of the yearHng. 



" Those that do teach young babes, 

 Do it with gentle means and easy tasks." 



The couplet is one worthy to be borne in mind by all who 

 would undertake to train horses. The yearling, when he 

 comes from the breeder's hands to those of the trainer, is (as 

 Mr. Clark observes) often fat. In such cases he requires 

 time, and should only have gentle exercise at first — walking 

 and trotting for several hours daily — and then a dose of 

 physic. After this he may be lounged, and in a few days 

 the breaking tackle may be put on him. 



The tackle consists of pad, with side reins fastened to it, 

 bridle, crupper, and kicking straps. When he is familiar with 

 these and lounges quietly both ways (to right and left) a 

 saddle may be added ; over which the pad is placed — the 



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